Hussein Bikar - The Illustrator and Story Writer

The Illustrator and Story Writer

During the years in which he taught at The Faculty of Fine Arts as an assistant to his former professor Ahmed Sabry, his talent for illustrating began to be recognized, He was asked to prepare drawings for the first illustrated book to be published in Egypt, "The Stream of Days" by the eminent author Taha Hussein. With this book, Bicar discovered a new outlet for his artistic creativity. He began to write himself and to illustrate his writings. His delightful depictions, clear and simple but rich in expression, graced numerous children’s books over the years. This labor of love was concentrated ultimately on Sinbad, a children’s magazine which Bicar produced and illustrated. Begun in 1952, it was also the first of its kind in Egypt.

As an illustrator, Bicar emphasizes that one should not be limited to a single artistic style. The artist should respond to the subject matter and allow it to suggest an appropriate style. Thus, the artist “gives himself to the subject.” Bicar counts among his friends the famous American illustrator, Norman Rockwell, who “made me proud to be an illustrator.”